For the period of October 2024 – June 2026, the Queensland Mental Health Commission has funded Lived Experience Training (.org) to provide whole of sector organisational readiness training to foster:
Organisational Training Which Enables Your Workforce To Learn Embed Transform
1. Baseline understanding of Lived Experience workforces and the principles of our work for all people working in the service sector within QLD. Including:
- Qld Health/HHSs,
- NGOs
- PHNs
- Advocacy bodies
- Government departments
- Peak bodies
- AOD
- Mental Health Disability
- Others e.g. housing, harm reduction, suicide prevention etc. (excluding higher education; VET and Universities)
2. Build the literacy of senior organisational and department leaders regionally across the State to better understand and/or articulate:
- Myth-busting common misconceptions
- The values, principles and potential benefits of developing well supported Lived and Living Experience workforces
- Evidence based and proven strategies to enable sustainable and effective growth, with alignment to key state and national policies.
These sessions will also include significant time for robust discussion, exploring possible directions or areas for Lived Experience development, and ultimately some initial planning to further embed Lived Experience workers across each region of the State.
For the period of October 2024 – June 2026, the Queensland Mental Health Commission has funded Lived Experience Training (.org) to provide whole of sector organisational readiness training to foster:
What do the courses Involve?
1. Whole of Sector Orientation/induction to Lived Experience.
Please see Appendix 1 for more details on this course.
Online, self-paced orientation/induction to Lived Experience work for all staff to foster baseline understanding of Lived Experience workforces including, what is ‘Lived Expertise’, why do designated roles matter, and to address the most common attitudinal barriers to acceptance and valuing of Lived and Living Experience work. This takes approx. 1 hour at a time that suits the individual.
Organisations are strongly encouraged to commit to this orientation/induction training as part of annual, whole of organisation mandatory training, with refresher training follow up the following year.
2. Foundational knowledge and planning for region wide Lived Experience workforce development.
Please see Appendix 2 for more details on this course.
20 articulated live online sessions involving 2 x 2.5 hour live sessions that follow on from the orientation training, to increase the literacy of senior organisational and department leaders, HR/People and Culture and Lived Experience Leaders.
Provides critical understanding to underpin an evidence informed approach to workplace cultural change management, and practical steps towards embedding Lived Experience workforces, as well as dedicated time to come together regionally to gain shared understanding, language and definitions around Lived Experience workforce, and plan collectively for further development.
Pre-requisite
The prerequisite for these sessions is the Whole of Sector Orientation/induction to Lived Experience by Lived Experience Training.
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Why is a Whole-of-Staff Lived Experience Orientation Important?
As the ‘new kids on the block’ with some fundamentally different ways of doing and viewing, designated Lived and Living Experience workers are not well understood by the wider workforce, which is inhibiting acceptance and willingness to employ or collaborate with the roles. Lack of understanding and valuing of Lived Experience workers results in the potential benefits being unrealised or under-realised, as well as a swathe of psychological hazards for people in Lived Experience roles.
Research is very clear, exposure to Lived Experience concepts leads to increased understanding, valuing and willingness to engage with and embed Lived Experience workforces. Building whole of organisational basic literacy is the foundational step in moving towards organisational readiness, and ultimately – best practice outcomes.
What Informs this Training?
The evidence that informs this training, also informs many key policy documents and initiatives worldwide, across a range of sectors and specialisations, including but not limited to mental health. The research has included both qualitative and quantitative studies to explore different aspects of Lived and Living Experience workforce development and practice. The 15+ years of international research studies led by Dr Louise Byrne have been peer reviewed and published in highly regarded scientific journals internationally. The findings have also been thoroughly tested, verified and warmly approved of by diverse Lived Experience communities.
To learn more, check out our translation website, which has plain language summaries of the research findings, plus links to the full published papers.Â
To find out more about Louise and the team go to ‘About Us’ or check out Appendix 3 by clicking the button below. for a bio on Louise.
Diversity and Intersectionality
Many people with diverse perspectives contributed to the program of research that informs this training, including:
- people working in both personal/consumer and family/carer roles
- people representing a vast range of intersectional perspectives including diverse cultures/backgrounds, identifications and experiences
- people representing multiple specialisations, sectors and countries
- folks employed in various non-designated roles, including all levels of management and executive positions (to assist in understanding the broader context and how to encourage better understanding and valuing of Lived and Living experience roles
Accessibility
Accessibility includes particular consideration of the learning needs of people who are neurodiverse, people with low literacy, people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, and people who are blind or have low vision.
With advice from consultants, attention has been paid to providing a streamlined and user-friendly experience, with an emphasis on clean, simple graphics and fonts, and intuitive navigation.
All learning materials are provided in video format with optional subtitles, and a companion visual descriptions transcript (for Screen Readers), which explains the changing visual elements within videos. Each time the vision changes, a bright tinkly sound is heard, a whoosh sound lets people know the image has returned to the presenter. Headings of different levels have been included throughout the website and course material to aid navigation.
Ease of Access and Reporting
Initially, representatives from your organisation can test the training. Once your organisation has signed up to adopt this as part of mandatory annual training, we will ask you to populate a csv file to allow us to enrol your staff.
When users have been added to the .csv file, please email through to techsupport@livedexperiencetraining.org and we will enrol your organisation.
An automated email will then be sent from enquiries@livedexperiencetraining.org to all your staff, providing a password reset link and a unique training access link. Your employees will follow the first link and create a new password, then sign in via the second link and with their password to access the training material.
When the users have completed the training, they will be sent a certificate via email.
Team leaders will be able to login and run reports to view who has/ has not completed the training.
Eligibility
Includes unlimited access for anyone employed in State funded (including HHS) or NGO/charities (including PHN funded services) in any relevant sector or service type based in Queensland, including mental health, AOD, harm reduction, housing, suicide prevention, First Nations etc.
Excluding higher education institutions (TAFE, Universities unless negotiated and budget raised), private industry and other government agencies outside of the relevant services.
If you have received your login details..
enrolled Individual from an Organisation
If you are an individual from an organisation ready to start, click the green button on the right.
Organisations
If you are a QLD based organisation enrolling your work force please click the pink button on the right.
Enrolled Testers
If you are an individual trying the orientation/ induction training on behalf of an organisation please click the blue button on the right.
Appendix 1:
Whole-of-sector Orientation/induction to lived and living experience
Outline of course materials
Lesson 1: Introduction to Lived Experience
Introduces the course and content of the first video. Content includes – who has ‘lived experience’, what counts as ‘enough’ lived experience, and why is Lived Experience workforce becoming so popular?
- Multiple choice quiz
Lesson 2: What qualifies people for Lived Experience work and what makes it unique?
Explains what informs Lived Expertise, why that’s central to employment/recruitment to Lived Experience roles, and some of the values, principles and practices that are common to Lived Experience work and make it distinct and unique from other professions.
- Multiple choice quiz
Lesson 3: Different Lived Expertise role types
Under the broad umbrella of Lived Experience there are different informing role types and specialities. Learn about some of the key position types and functions and why it’s important to have diverse roles.
- True/False quiz
Lesson 4: Why do we need designated Lived Experience roles?
Explains the need for designated Lived Experience roles. Also – what is required to qualify for senior or leadership Lived Experience positions? Why systems evolution and the addition of Lived Experience ultimately matters.
- Critical thinking and reflection exercise
Also includes:
- Summary of key concepts for download and additional resource links
- Provision of certificate of completion (automatically generated)
- Periodic completion reports to organisation if desired (automatically generated)
What people love about this trainingÂ
For more of what people love check out testimonials on our website
Appendix 2:
Foundational knowledge and planning for region wide Lived Experience workforce development detailed information
Method
Taking a region-by-region approach to capture the specific interests, needs and gaps in different geographic locations, these sessions will provide information, exploration and engagement to increase interest in Lived Experience work, provide foundational literacy and key learnings, and guidance and space to collectively discuss and plan for what is needed and possible in various regions.
Recommended for: senior leaders, hiring managers, HR/People and Culture, and Lived Experience leaders
- Up to 25 pax per session
- 20 groups, 2 sessions per group (total of 40 sessions)
- Each cohort/group would participate in 2 sessions, spaced at least 3 months apart
Why?
As a new discipline, understanding of Lived and Living Expertise is still emerging and understandably varied. Research is clear that advanced understanding of the unique features of Lived Experience practice are necessary to increase the perceived the value of the work, enhance willingness to collaborate with and develop the Lived Experience workforce, and reap the potential benefits of the work, to ultimately contribute to meaningful reform and better outcomes for people accessing services, their family, friends, carers and significant others.
Who?
These interactive two-hour sessions enhance Lived and Living Experience literacy by providing a deep dive into the best contemporary evidence to assist folks working in or with designated Lived Experience roles.
How?
These online sessions are intentionally designed as safe spaces to explore ‘elephants’ in the room without judgment, and in doing so, move towards a more evidence-based, shared understanding of Lived and Living Experience work.
What?
The first session provides comprehensive Lived and Living Expertise literacy building including:Â
- explanation of key definitions and distinctions
- understanding having lived experience and building Lived and Living Expertise
- clarity on the values, principles, and role functions of Lived Experience work across various role types, specialities, and sectors
- snapshot of some of the strategies to embed authentic Lived and Living perspectives, as well as common workplace cultural barriers
- facilitated discussion, time for critical thinking, and knowledge development activities
The second session will focus on a bit more information delivery at the start to refresh and empower planning and discussion, and then move onto a majority focus on discussion and initial strategies to address ‘what’s next’ or what’s desired region by region.
Participants will have the opportunity to contribute to actualising these strategies and planning for effective implementation, aiding motivation and engagement.
Appendix 3:
About Louise
Over the last 20 years Dr Louise Byrne has worked in a broad variety of designated Lived and Living Experience roles.
Louise is a former Fulbright scholar, holding an ongoing Adjunct Assistant Professor position at Yale University (United States) and Senior Research Fellowship at RMIT University (Australia). Louise’s seminal 15-year program of research has supported the growth in understanding, awareness and development of Lived Experience workforces, nationally and internationally, and helps shape the perspective of lived experience work as a respected, credible, evidence-based discipline.
Louise is a leading international expert on Lived Experience, acknowledged as a thought-leader in Lived Experience/Peer workforce development and the change management strategies required to build authentic, effective, and impactful Lived Experience Workforces.
Louise’s name is synonymous with highest quality, evidence-informed work, setting benchmarks for best practice and enhancing understanding of and fidelity to the Lived Experience discipline. Louise has received numerous awards for her contributions, most recently the 2024 Australian Mental Health Prize: Lived Experience.
Louise’s work as a strategic consultant, trainer and thought leader on the role and benefit of lived experience workforces assists meaningful implementation of the research findings and promotes an evidence informed approach to Lived Experience workforce development.
The Lived Experience Training program, developed by Louise Byrne, is a transformative opportunity to enhance understanding and capacity regarding Lived Experience workforces. This training provides both foundational and advanced knowledge to drive organisational readiness. I think this training is the missing link so many of us have been looking for! Authentic, no jargon, includes information on the background so you can really understand this workforce and support them for even better outcomes across the board. Transform, improve, grow, thrive.
"I did the [orientation] course and it took me just under an hour, I felt the content was pitched just right to be informative and form as good basis of Lived Experience. The landing page is straight to the point and clear, the information provided in each section is comprehensive once opened. I think you have done an awesome job with this, congratulations on such a significant innovation."
James Hill -Â Mental Health Manager, Energy Queensland
The orientation course was made available to our entire National Leadership Team and was a fantastic way to build a shared foundation and language. The content was easy to navigate and really helped demystify some of the core concepts and set us up as a leadership team to undertake the Foundational Knowledge session to deepen our understanding and being to contemplate application and implementation.
Thanks Louise and Team, this is fantastic training and couldn’t recommend more highly.
Lived Experience Training acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the unceded lands upon which we live and work, Darumbal country and Whadjak Noongar country. We acknowledge past and present Elders, their cultural knowledge and deep connection to land, sea and community. We pay our deep and heartfelt respects to these essential leaders and thank them for their guidance.Â
For a definition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience, please go to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre